Obama’s New Area Code In Rancho Mirage Is So Diverse That It’s Just 1.5 Percent Black

Throughout President Barack Obama’s time in office, he’s taken pains to emphasize the importance of diversity, but now the Obamas have purchased their fifth home, and it’s located in a small golf resort town near Palm Springs that’s just 1.5 percent black and 88 percent white.

According to the census, 88.7 percent of the population is white, with 81.7 percent registering as non-Hispanic white. In contrast, only 1.5 percent of the local population is African American. About half of a percent is Native American. In 2010, there were 651 Asians, making them only 3.8 percent of the community. Hispanics or Latinos comprised 11.4 percent, which is less than the national figure.

The Obama administration has been the most diverse administration in history, but that track record won’t follow the Obamas outside the White House — at least in terms of their new place in Rancho Mirage.

Although the Obamas purchased a home in California — which now makes them bi-coastal — in the meantime, they will be remaining in Washington, D.C., at least until Sasha can finish high school at Sidwell Friends School. The family is leasing a nine-bedroom $4.3 million dollar mansion in D.C. for the time being.